Scouts' expansion to public housing opens doors for girls

Contributed photoSeveral Girl Scouts enjoy some camaraderie at National Girls' Day, hosted by the Kappa Delta sorority at UAH earlier this month. The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama this year expanded its program into the Huntsville Housing Authority.

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- When Girl Scout cookie season begins with the New Year, there will be many excited, new faces participating in the annual tradition.

The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama in February began a venture with the Huntsville Housing Authority to extend its services into the city's public housing neighborhoods.

Shawana Ariel, community development manager for Madison County, said about 70 girls had signed up as of the end of September.

Registration is continuing, Ariel said. Girls ages 5 to 18 can join for $12 a year, and scholarships are available to help with dues and uniforms.

Ariel explained that availability was the main reason for expanding the Girl Scouts into public housing. Although some of the girls living in housing authority residences had access to the Girl Scouts through their schools, others did not.

"This was an area where we had minimal contact," Ariel said. "We wanted the scouts who lived in the Huntsville Housing Authority to have the entire Girl Scouts experience."

There are seven troops at six of the public housing locations, including Lincoln Park, Northwoods, Searcy Homes, Sparkman Homes and Stone Manor. Brookside and Butler Terrace form a combined site.

Ariel said the expansion gives the girls the same opportunities for friendship, fun and skill-building as those girls in other neighborhoods.

"We consider ourselves the largest sorority in the world," Ariel said of the Girl Scouts. "A goal of mine at the beginning of the year was to bring the girls in these communities together."

Thus far, that goal has seen much success, she said.

"Since we've started, I've seen how these girls have grown," Ariel said. "They take responsibility for themselves and learn to look out for one another."

Parents have also been receptive. Donna Summers, whose 9-year-old daughter, Tyeasha, is a member of the Searcy Homes troop, said she is grateful that the Girl Scouts has come into their neighborhood.

"I'm glad because these girls out here, all they really have to do is play out in the yard," Summers said. "This is giving them things to do and educating them on what the Girl Scouts is all about."

Michael Lundy, executive director of the Housing Authority, said though the partnership with the Girl Scouts is relatively new, the Boy Scouts have been in the city's public housing for a number of years.

"We're hoping that we will have a similar experience with the Girl Scouts," Lundy said. "We're very excited and very encouraged by what they are doing."

The Housing Authority also hopes to increase support of the organization, including doing what it can to help Ariel find more money, Lundy said.

"I'm hopeful that the Boy Scout troops and Girl Scout troops will be able to help the kids in public housing to become good citizens and give back to society," Lundy said.

Lundy said the social services programs the Housing Authority provides are geared toward entire families.

"We have a lot of programs focused on the adults, and we will continue to do that, but it's equally important to have programs focused on the youth," Lundy said. "They really are our future."

Want to get involved with the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama?

For more information, call Shawana Ariel, Madison County community development manager, at 800-734-4541, ext. 1232.